Short Summary

SKYLAB RESCUE MISSION AND RESCUE KIT (SL-R)
If a malfunction prevents a Command Service Module docked to the Skylab cluster from being used to return the astronauts, a rescue can be made by launching another CSM Malfunctions elsewhere in the Skylab cluster should not endanger the safe ???

Description

SKYLAB RESCUE MISSION AND RESCUE KIT (SL-R)
If a malfunction prevents a Command Service Module docked to the Skylab cluster from being used to return the astronauts, a rescue can be made by launching another CSM Malfunctions elsewhere in the Skylab cluster should not endanger the safe ???turn of astronauts. A rescue mission will be launched only in case ???re is complete loss of CSM capability for return to Earth. Malfunctions endangering the safe return of the astron??? are: loss of entry or Earth landing capability; loss of all propulsion; loss of all ??? power; inability to undock from the MDA; loss of environmental control; and loss of pr???cix attitude stabilization.

??? it is necessary to l???nch a rescue ??? on the launch pad will be modified by installation of portions of a rescue kill to receive ex???a passengers (Figure IV-I). The orbiting crew will continue to perform Skylab mission ???vets until they are ???seued. The life ??? of the Workshop has ??? total mission duration of about 150 days.

G???OUND ???NSE TIME DAYS AFTER ALA???
DAYS INTO MISSION
Figure IV-2 -- Rescue R???ponse Time
Response time for a rescue mission depends mainly on the time required to prepare the launch and rescue vehicles. Launch window opportunities could delay the launch no more than five days, at most. Rendezvous and crew transfer times are of secondary importance (Figure IV-2).

For an early rescue mission, such as in response to a malfunction just after docking, 48 days of accelerated preparation will be required with 22 days needed to refurbish the launch umbilical tower. The rescue kit can be installed in eight hours. As the mission progresses, time to prepare the rescue launch decreases. The succeeding launch vehicle and tower, being prepared for a normal launch, require less time to get ready for a rescue mission. For a late emergency, time to prepare a rescue launch can be shortened to 10 days.

Backup hardware will be used if a rescue of the third crew is necessary. Items designated for this eventuality are Sa??? IB vehicle AS-209 and ???.

??? Also, p??? is made for 4 limited experiment return capability. The modifications include: Removal of storage lockers on the all bulkhead and installation of two couches in that spa??? ??? support and communications umbilieats modified to accommodate two extra ???men.

For a rescue mission, two ???wm???n are launched with the centre couch empty. The returning CM will then carry five men.

A modified drogue and a mechanical triggering device for the mission CSM docking probe are included in the Skylab portion of the rescue kit. The crewmen to be rescued can install the ???gering device on the mission probe, and then use the probe and modified drogue to ???j???ct the disabled CSM. This will allow the rescue CSM to dock at the forward (axial) port, while keeping the possibility open for future revisits. If, for some reason, it is not feasible to ???j???ct the disabled CSM, the rescue CSM can dock at the side port of the MDA. However, a future revisit mission would not be possible due to the limited stay time allowable for side docking.